Apparatus for casting synthetic rods

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for casting synthetic rods having a particular design therein, including providing containers for different plastics, a mixing plate and means for pouring the plastic into casting pipes in a desired pattern.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Walter Pltuk 34 Stlfterweg; Alfred Witulski, l9 Priessnitz str.; Wilhelm Muhleiseu, 3 Munchner Platz, all oi D-8264 Waldkraiburg Bavaria, Germany (21] Appl. No. 765,917 [22] Filed Oct. 8,1968

[45] Patented Aug. 3, i971 [54] APPARATUS FOR CASTING SYNTHETIC RODS 11 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 18/26 R, 264/73 [51] Int. Cl B29c 5/08 [50] Field of Search 1 8/26 M, 30

GM, 30 FH, 30 FM, 30 GH, 30 MM, 30 UC, 30

UM, 39; 161/7, 19; 141/100, 104, I05, 106, 107; 264/73, 74, 75, 76, 77,241, 245

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,488,246 1/1970 Duggins 18/26 FOREIGN PATENTS 140,438 1/1935 Austria 18/30 (Fl-I) Primary Examiner.l. Spencer Overholser Assistant Examiner-Lucius B. Frye Attorney-Schwartz & Sarli ABSTRACT: An apparatus for casting synthetic rods having a particular design therein, including providing containers for different plastics, a mixing plate and means for pouring the plastic into casting pipes in a desired pattern.

APPARATUS FOR CASTING SYNTHETIC RODS BACKGROUND AND OBJECTS This invention relates to a rod-casting machine for casting synthetic resin rods having a design or flowered pattern. It is particularly useful in making synthetic resin rods which are used in the production of buttons with a flower design thereon.

In the manufacture of buttons, it is common practice to start with a flowered or otherwise designed synthetic rod. The rods are then cut into separate discs from which the buttons are produced.

Attempts have been made over a long period of time to make button patterns or designs which correspond to the design of buffalo horn buttons. Because of the peculiar and complicated structure of the buffalo horn design pattern, it is thus far not been achieved with complete satisfaction.

It is an object of this invention to create a rod-casting machine from which synthetic resin rods can be made for the production of buttons with a buffalo horn design or other desired configurations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The solution of this problem is essentially provided by (I) an inclined, oscillating movable mixing plate above which terminates the outlet openings of several containers filled with different plastics, 2) a rotatable arrangement for at least part of the containers, and (3) a drain in the mixing plate, the drain being above the filling or charging opening of casting pipes. The casting pipes receive the material from which the synthetic rods are produced.

A further improvement is in the feature that the mixing plate consists of two superimposed parts. The fixed containers are arranged over one part while a plurality of rotatable containers are arranged over the other part of the mixing plate. The lower sectors of the mixing plate are located in the area vertically above the charging opening. The design of a rodcasting machine of this type yields button designs which are very similar to the buffalo horn design.

Preferably, a loop can be arranged which can be drawn forward between the drain in the mixing plate and the charging opening of the casting pipes. This loop interferes or changes the flow of the resin and produces patterns which essentially correspond to the growth arcs of the buffalo horn.

The mixing plate is preferably tapered toward the drain. The containers may be provided with flexible outlet pipelines and the ends of these pipelines may be adjustable. This will greatly influence the geometry of the design achieved. The adjustability of the speed of the movable parts also has the same effect.

According to another feature of this invention, an additional container is firmly connected to the mixing plate. From this container, resin flows in an adjustable volume to the mixing plate which is positioned below it. This essentially produces the patterned design which, in the buffalo horn, is known as a chain.

According to a modified version, the mixing plate is designed conically and at its point is positioned the drain, the conical point being projected downwardly.

Between the mixing plate and the charging opening of the casting pipes is located an additional or supplementary plate which is attached to the mixing plate. This additional plate will also help in producing a modification in the pattern. The additional plate can be fixed or movable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other objects of the invention will be better understood from the detailed description and drawing wherein:

FIG. I is a side elevation view of a rod-casting machine according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a rod-casting machine according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of a modified version of a rodcasting machine;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken across 4-4 in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The casting machine as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is used for filling casting pipes l which are deposited on a diagonally positioned support member 2. The inclination of support 2 can be adjusted between 20 and relative to the vertical axis. It is not necessary that the adjustment take place in any stages since it is a continuous adjustment device and may be set at any position desired. This may be done by adjusting elements 2' by known means such as threaded members or by rotating an arm 2" around a pivot 2".

The actual casting machine includes a long mixing plate 14 and a short mixing plate I0, the latter positioned above plate 14. These mixing plates are tapered toward the lower end and are positioned approximately vertically above a charging opening 3 in the casting pipe 1. In the modification illustrated, only the short mixing plate 10 is movable in an oscillating manner above and by means of rods 11 and eccentric 12. The long mixing plate 14 is in a fixed position. The long mixing plate 14, however, can also be connected to the short mixing plate 10 so that it can be moved in a back and forth direction together with the latter. Above the upper portion of the long mixing plate 14 is located a pair of containers l3 and 13a having outlet ends 13b and respectively. These terminate immediately above and are free swinging over the mixing plate 14.

Above the short mixing plate 10 a rotatable dish-type member 21 is arranged on a shaft 20. On the rotatable disc 21, several containers 7a, 7b, 7c, etc. are arranged, and these containers are in contact via a plurality of flexible hoses 8 with corresponding outlet nozzles and the r.p.m. of the dish can be adjusted as desired.

Above the short mixing plate 10 is attached an additional container 15. The plastic material flowing from containers 13, 13a, 7a, 7b, 7c, and 15 are united at the outlet or discharge end of the lower, long mixing plate 14 and flow from it onto an additional plate 16. The additional plate 16 is attached to the long mixing plate 14 (which is tapered as seen in FIG. 2) and is located directly in front of the charging opening-3 of the casting pipe 1. The frequency of movement and the inclination of the mixing plate 10 and 14 are adjustable. Similarly the reciprocal position is shiftable along the longitudinal direction.

Also included is a wire loop 17 which can be moved by a compressed air cylinder 18. This wire loop can be moved into the path of the plastic material flowing off of the long mixing plate 14. The frequency of movement of the wire loop is likewise adjustable.

Element 6 in FIG. 1 is a solenoid which is adapted to shift the carrier for support 2 when a hollow rod or casting pipe 1 has been completely filled to a position such that the next hollow casting pipe can come in alignment with the outlet of plate I6. Thus, a series of hollow rods which are supported in parallel spaced relationship to one another on support 2 may be filled with resin without materially interrupting the mixing and filling process.

A rotary solenoid 22 in FIG. 1 is adapted to shift an interception container 19 (FIG. 2) in or out of the vertical alignment with the outlet of the additional plate 16. This temporarily stops the flow of material while changing pipes.

OPERATION The invention operates as follows: from the containers l3 and 13a different plastic solutions flow onto the upper sector of the mixing plate 14, and from there they flow to the outlet of that plate. At the same time there flows from the rotatable containers 7a, 7b, etc., through the outlet nozzle 9 additional plastic solution to the short, upper mixing plate 10. The outflowing streams yield larger or smaller circles on the mixing plates located underneath, depending upon the adjustment of nozzle 9. in the containers 113 the matrix is preferably placed, while the color-yielding plastic or resin solutions are placed in the containers located on rotating table 21. The number of containers i3 and 7 can obviously vary, depending upon desired button pattern designs.

The two streams which flow from the long mixing plate M and the short mixing plate 10 unite on the additional plate 16 and from there they flow into the charging opening of the casting pipe 1.

The resin streams from the two mixing plates can however, also be united instead on the lower end of the mixing plate 14 and can then flow from there to the additional plate 16.

The solutions leaving nozzle 9 unite first of all with the solution coming out of the additional container 15. This produces a design pattern which in the case of a buffalo horn is known as a chain.

The movement of the compressed air cylinder 13, and thus the movement of the wire loop 17, disturbs the resin flow and generates a design pattern which in the case of the buffalo horn is known as growth rings. The stroke frequency and the duration of stay in the resin stream of the loop can be adjusted within broad limits without any intermediate steps or stages.

in order to regulate the degree of filling of the casting pipes, the latter are provided at an upper end with an eccentric borehole 4 which is located in the path of a photoelectric scanning device 5. As soon as the plastic rises to the level of the borehole Al, the light ray-is interrupted and as a result the pipe support 2 is automatically moved to the side by means of the solenoid element 6 so that the next pipe is moved into the filling position.

MODIFICATION FIGS. 3 and 41 show an alternative version in which the mixing plate is a cone-shaped element 24 whose point is directed downwardly and constitutes an outlet. The mixing cone or funnel 2 1i is again designed in an oscillatingly or rotatably movable manner and terminates above a fixed groove 25 whose drainage end is located in front of the charging opening in pipe 1. This groove-type device 25 may also be movable. Element 23 in FIG. 3 corresponds to the container 15 in FIG. ii and is an additional container for resin or other color material.

In order to get a uniform design pattern over the entire pipe length, the material must be stopped for a short period of time when the casting pipe 1 is changed. This is done by means of an interception container not shown, similar to 19 in FIG. 2, which is swung into the path of the plastic jet by means of a rotary magnet which is controlled by a timeclock.

It will be noted that the outlets from the containers 7 terminate at various points radially in the cone 24 as seen in FIG. 4.

We claim:

1. A rod-casting machine comprising:

a. a plurality of containers for holding different plastics,

b. an inclined, reciprocably movable mixing plate having a tapered discharged end, said plate being positioned below said containers,

c. outlet means connected to each container above said mixing plate directing said plastics onto said mixing plate,

d. inclined tubelike. casting means at said discharge end of said mixing plate having an open upper end and a closed lower end, and

c. said discharge end for directing the mixed plastics into said casting means from said mixing plate.

2. A machine as defined in claim 1 including a stationary plate positioned adjacent said mixing plate.

3. A machine as defined in claim ll wherein some of said containers are stationary and others are rotatably movable.

4. A machine as defined in claim 2 wherein said plates are superimposed over each other, stationary containers'being positioned above one plate and rotatably movable containers positioned over said outer late.

5. A machine as define in claim 3 wherein at least some of said outlet means are flexible tubelike members and are radially adjustable relative to the axis of rotation of said movable containers.

6. A machine as defined in claim 3 wherein the speed of said mixing plate and said rotatable containers is adjustable.

7. A rod-casting machine comprising:

a. a plurality of containers for holding different plastics,

b. a rotatably movable mixing means positioned below said containers,

c. outlet means directing said plastics onto said mixing means, and

d. means for directing the mixed plastics into said casting means from said mixing means.

A machine as defined in claim 7 wherein said mixing means is in the shape of a cone, said discharge end being at the point of said cone, and said cone being pointed downwardly.

9. A machine as defined in claim 1 including an additional plate positioned between said mixing means and said casting means.

W. A machine as defined in claim 1 including a movable interception container between the discharge end of said movable plate and the upper end of said tubelike casting means.

lll. A rod-casting machine comprising:

a. a plurality of containers for holding different plastics,

b. movable mixing means positioned below said containers,

c. outlet means directing said plastics onto said mixing means,

d. casting means at a discharge end of said mixing means,

e. means for directing the mixed plastics into said casting means from said mixing means, and

f. a movable loop adjacent said discharge end between said end and the entrance to said casting means to vary the flow of plastic material into said casting means to generate a design pattern. 

1. A rod-casting machine comprising: a. a plurality of containers for holding different plastics, b. an inclined, reciprocably movable mixing plate having a tapered discharged end, said plate being positioned below said containers, c. outlet means connected to each container above said mixing plate directing said plastics onto said mixing plate, d. inclined tubelike casting means at said discharge end of said mixing plate having an open upper end and a closed lower end, and e. said discharge end foR directing the mixed plastics into said casting means from said mixing plate.
 2. A machine as defined in claim 1 including a stationary plate positioned adjacent said mixing plate.
 3. A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein some of said containers are stationary and others are rotatably movable.
 4. A machine as defined in claim 2 wherein said plates are superimposed over each other, stationary containers being positioned above one plate and rotatably movable containers positioned over said outer plate.
 5. A machine as defined in claim 3 wherein at least some of said outlet means are flexible tubelike members and are radially adjustable relative to the axis of rotation of said movable containers.
 6. A machine as defined in claim 3 wherein the speed of said mixing plate and said rotatable containers is adjustable.
 7. A rod-casting machine comprising: a. a plurality of containers for holding different plastics, b. a rotatably movable mixing means positioned below said containers, c. outlet means directing said plastics onto said mixing means, and d. means for directing the mixed plastics into said casting means from said mixing means.
 8. A machine as defined in claim 7 wherein said mixing means is in the shape of a cone, said discharge end being at the point of said cone, and said cone being pointed downwardly.
 9. A machine as defined in claim 1 including an additional plate positioned between said mixing means and said casting means.
 10. A machine as defined in claim 1 including a movable interception container between the discharge end of said movable plate and the upper end of said tubelike casting means.
 11. A rod-casting machine comprising: a. a plurality of containers for holding different plastics, b. movable mixing means positioned below said containers, c. outlet means directing said plastics onto said mixing means, d. casting means at a discharge end of said mixing means, e. means for directing the mixed plastics into said casting means from said mixing means, and f. a movable loop adjacent said discharge end between said end and the entrance to said casting means to vary the flow of plastic material into said casting means to generate a design pattern. 